A good school backpack is a student’s faithful companion. It will hold all the things a student needs for a whole day of classes, clubs, sports, internships, etc. A backpack is not just a place to carry things, it is the basis of a wardrobe and an opportunity for students to express their individual style. Therefore, it is extremely important to find a school backpack that is versatile, great looking, comfortable and durable, as well as long-lasting.
Since our first test in 2015, we’ve tried dozens of backpacks in a variety of styles. Our top five backpack recommendations are the best we’ve found for high school and college students: an ergonomic backpack, a retro-style backpack with timeless appeal, a versatile and sophisticated backpack, a roomy and classic college backpack, and a backpack that stays organized with a street-style twist.
This duffel features padded mesh straps and a back panel that make carrying heavy items easier and more comfortable. It also has the most convenient water bottle pocket of any backpack we tested, as well as a removable laptop compartment, but its internal organization could be a little better.
If you need to carry a lot of things, such as thick textbooks, a large water bottle, or bulky sports equipment, the Patagonia Refugio 26L backpack is the perfect choice. The backpack is ergonomically designed and comfortable, making it easy to handle even when carrying a heavy load. Plus, it has a sleek, sporty design and is available in a variety of attractive colors, making it a great addition to any college or school campus.
This is the most comfortable and ergonomic backpack we’ve ever tested. Of all the backpacks we’ve ever worn, the Refugio has the best weight distribution. The adjustable, form-fitting shoulder straps and thick back panel are made from breathable recycled polyester mesh, keeping you light and cool even when fully loaded. A removable sternum strap helps stabilize the pack and reduces pressure on your spine.
There are many clever designs throughout the backpack. The spacious pocket on the front of the backpack has a vertical zipper for easy top-down access to small items, while the spacious main compartment is ideal for storing larger items like clothes and shoes. A separate, padded laptop compartment keeps your computer and textbooks organized, and the backpack also features a removable, padded compartment for a 15-inch laptop and a mesh zippered pocket for chargers and school supplies.
We especially like the two side water bottle pockets on the Refugio backpack, which are made of a stretchy mesh material that makes it easy to get larger water bottles in and out, even while wearing a backpack. The compression straps above the water bottle pockets on the sides of the backpack can be used to provide additional support for taller water bottles. A Wirecutter staffer who owns the backpack confirmed that after a year of use, both pockets have retained their original shape and elasticity.
It’s durable and has excellent waterproofing properties. The Refugio’s outer shell is made from durable recycled polyester that repels water and has a PFAS-free DWR (durable water repellent) finish to keep your gear dry. From the buckles and sliders to the zippers, every detail is made from high-quality materials and works at its best.
Warranty: Refugio is backed by what Patagonia calls its Ironclad Guarantee, which promises to repair, replace, or refund any unsatisfactory item at any time. In cases of normal wear and tear, the company will repair the damage and bill you based on the extent of the repair.
This compact and durable laptop backpack combines nostalgia and beauty. Although the backpack’s shoulder straps are slightly padded (a noticeable improvement over the original Kånken model), it’s still not ideal for carrying very heavy items.
The Fjällräven Kånken Laptop is a retro-style backpack that many trendy kids love. It’s like the backpack you (or your parents!) wore in elementary school, only with thin straps and a protective compartment for your laptop, it’s more practical and more suitable for adults.
Its iconic look has been updated slightly. The original Kånken backpack was designed for Swedish schoolchildren in 1977 and is still popular with both kids and adults today. The updated Kånken laptop backpack retains the youthful, fashionable style of its predecessor, available in the brand’s familiar Fjällräven color palette of muted gray to brighter orange, blue, and mustard yellow, and adds practical features like a padded laptop compartment and shock-absorbing pads on the shoulder straps. (The first-generation product only had a regular shoulder strap.)
Ideal for medium-sized items. I wore the Kånken Laptop backpack, which contained my laptop, a change of clothes, a makeup bag, a notebook, a water bottle, a charger, and other items, for 12 hours on my feet, and it was so comfortable that I almost forgot I had it. However, its thin straps are not suitable for carrying heavy items (such as several thick textbooks).
At 18 liters, this pack is the smallest we recommend, but its deep, boxy shape and clamshell opening make it feel roomier inside (is this the Tardis of packs?).
Provides easy access to essentials. The main compartment of the Kånken is spacious and deep, and has a patch pocket for notebooks or textbooks. The backpack has zippers on three sides, allowing it to be opened like a suitcase, a feature that was appreciated by one tester who used the Kånken as a travel bag.
The laptop compartment accommodates computers up to 15 inches and features a separate zipper, allowing easy access to your laptop without having to dig through the main compartment. (The Kånken laptop also comes in 13-inch and 17-inch versions, so you can choose the size that works best for you.) The front zippered pocket is perfect for storing small items that require quick access, like a wallet, keys, or phone charger.
Dual top handles make the backpack easy to carry and hang. It’s the only bag we’ve tested that offers this kind of versatility. One Wirecutter staffer who owns a Kånken laptop told us that being able to easily carry the bag on her back or by the top handle makes it easier to navigate buses and other crowded areas. The handles also help securely hang the bag on bathroom stall hooks.
It is made of durable material, waterproof and durable. The Kånken laptop is made of Vinylon F fabric, a durable synthetic fabric that is water-resistant and has no chemical coating. While wearing this backpack, I was caught in heavy rain, but was pleased to find that my contents remained dry.
One long-term tester said the Kånken notebook is still sturdy after five years of regular use, with no rips at the seams. While the material feels a little hard when you first take it out of the box, it softens up after a few months and develops a unique aged patina over time.
Warranty: Kånken notebooks come with a limited lifetime warranty, which covers purchases from authorized dealers and covers repair or replacement. The warranty does not cover normal wear and tear.
Sleek design and useful features like check-in and a magnetic top closure make this sleek laptop bag look more expensive than it actually is. But unlike our other recommendations, it doesn’t come with a warranty.
The ReNew Transit Backpack from Everlane is a fully functional and versatile backpack that combines form and practicality. If you’re looking for a compact backpack that you can easily take from campus to the office to the airport, this is the bag for you. Its sophisticated appearance is a stark contrast to its sub-$100 price tag.
It has a simple and versatile aesthetic. The Transit’s sleek and modern design makes it perfect for almost any occasion; it works equally well as a business bag or a college backpack. The recycled polyester outer shell comes in pleasant pastel shades.
It’s lightweight and adjustable. This 27-liter backpack features an ultra-lightweight design and soft, contoured straps that our tests showed were very comfortable for carrying medium-sized items. We found the straps easy to adjust for the best fit.
It has a well-thought-out interior and additional features that make life easier and more convenient. A spacious front zippered pocket provides quick access to items without having to take the bag out every time to show ID or swipe a transit card. The fold-over top of the bag also features a roomy zippered pocket with a convenient magnetic closure—a feature that all of our testers loved and will be a plus for those with limited mobility.
The main compartment of the Transit features two patch pockets for notebooks or folders, as well as an internal pocket for a water bottle. For added practicality, there is an external pocket for a water bottle on the other side. A side zipper opens to reveal a separate slim laptop pocket that can accommodate a computer with a screen diagonal of up to 15 inches.
Notably, this is the only school backpack we’ve picked that comes with a luggage pass-through strap, allowing you to attach the backpack to the handle of your rolling suitcase when you’re on the go; a handy feature.
It feels sturdy and well-made. While the materials it’s made from aren’t as hard-wearing as our favorites from Patagonia and Fjällräven (and it doesn’t come with a warranty), we still think the Transit will last a long time. The bag’s waterproof exterior is made from durable recycled polyester, and the all-metal hardware is also built to last. Update senior correspondent Sri Raine Stewart has been using the 2022 bag frequently and says hers shows no signs of wear.
Simplicity is what’s cool about this bag: It’s available in a variety of colors and patterns, whether you want to stand out or blend in. It has a roomy laptop compartment, but you won’t find any fancy security or organization features inside.
Note: For summer 2024, Herschel has released a slightly updated Classic Backpack XL. The upgraded version is about 0.5 inches larger than our original version (by all measures), but the laptop compartment remains the same and accommodates computers up to 16 inches. The bag’s interior lining, which previously featured a red-and-white striped pattern, now features more muted tonal stripes that match the various exterior colors, giving the backpack a more mature (though less unique) look. We haven’t tested the new version yet.
The Herschel Classic XL Backpack is a simple, practical, retro backpack that cool kids of all ages love. Plus, there’s enough space for everything from 7am workouts to midnight classes.
It’s shaped like a traditional school backpack and is very textured. Simple and cute? True. But the Herschel Classic has enough character to keep it from being boring. The basic silhouette is accented with details like the lining (striped to match the backpack), a tape zip, and the instantly recognizable branding on the front pocket. It also comes in a dozen colors and patterns, from basic black and gray to floral prints and camouflage.
It’s very spacious. This backpack has a capacity of 30 liters, which is the largest of all the backpacks we recommend. The spacious main compartment has an elastic laptop compartment that can hold a computer up to 16 inches; you can also use it to store notebooks or textbooks. The Classic’s front zipped pocket is perfect for carrying small items like headphones, pens, and wallets, and it also has a carabiner clip for your keys.
Unlike the smaller Herschel Classic, the XL features two side water bottle pockets, each of which easily holds a 24-ounce Takeya bottle.
The strap works great. The Classic straps are flexible, well-padded and easy to adjust. There’s also a particularly clever design to help tighten up any strap that’s still hanging loose after adjustment: an elastic loop for easy storage of excess strap.
The fabric of this bag is very durable. The Classic’s durable body is made from recycled, used water bottles. Of course, we wouldn’t want to get caught in a downpour with a laptop in the bag, but it’s waterproof to begin with.
For an extra $30, you can purchase the Classic Backpack XL in waterproof fabric, but we haven’t tested that version.
Warranty: This bag is covered by Herschel’s limited lifetime warranty, which applies to any bag purchased from an authorized retailer and covers defects in material and workmanship. The warranty does not cover loss, damage, or general wear and tear.
This durable polyester backpack combines practicality and style, offering plenty of storage space, although it only has one external pocket, which is too small for large water bottles. However, it should be noted that the popularity of this backpack also means that it is often out of stock.
NOTE: We frequently have issues with this item being out of stock; colors other than black are especially difficult to find.
If you’re looking for a stylish everyday backpack that’s also street-ready, the Eastpak Padded Double is the one for you. It’s more practical and functional than the brand’s most famous backpack, the Padded Pak’r, but it’s still a great pack. The Padded Double retains the original’s overall style and elegance, but is about 3 inches longer, which brings several benefits: a pair of handy front pockets, a generous 28-liter capacity, and, in our opinion, a flattering, more proportionate silhouette.
Provides excellent storage functionality. The Padded Double features a roomy main compartment with an elastic slip pocket that will fit most 13-inch laptops (it can also be used to secure textbooks or notebooks to the back). Two large zippered front pockets provide additional flexibility for small items that need quick access.
There’s a third pocket at the top of the bag that unzips to reveal one of our favorite design elements: a pocket for storing a cell phone (or sunglasses), lined with a soft, comfortable interior. There’s a hidden storage pocket at the back that’s perfect for safely storing important items like your passport and credit cards, especially when traveling.
The bag only has one small water bottle pocket on the left side, so it’s difficult to distribute the weight across the right side of the pack, which isn’t very comfortable if you carry wide bottles.
The shoulder straps are very comfortable to wear. We were impressed by the soft silhouette and padded shoulder straps of the Padded Double. Unlike the stiff, rough straps of other brands we tested, such as Eastpak and JanSport, the soft, slightly curved straps of the Padded Double are well made and comfortable to wear.
It feels thick but not too stiff. The Padded Double polyester fabric is stronger than the thin nylon outer layer of the Eastpak Padded Pak’r and Padded Zippl’r, and softer than the Herschel material we recommend. Polyester is also inherently waterproof, providing some protection for your gear in the elements even without a waterproof surface coating.
High quality is evident in every detail of this backpack. The zippers have long pull tabs for easy opening and closing of pockets and compartments, and the bottom of the backpack is also thickened and reinforced.
Warranty: Eastpak offers a 30-year warranty on this soft twin mattress, which covers damage to zippers, runners, seams, and some fabrics. During the first two years of the warranty period, the warranty covers fading and damage to buckles, zipper tapes, and linings. The warranty does not cover holes, cuts, tears, or DIY repairs.